Darwin Carpet Python (Morelia spilota variegata)

The Darwin carpet python (Morelia spilota variegata) is a medium-sized python that ranges about 6-7 ft. in length.​ They can be found in the city of Darwin and range throughout the top end of the Northern Territory, over to the northern corner of Western Australia. The eastern part of their range extends into North-western Queensland. They seem to be harder to find outside of the Darwin area. They, like other carpet pythons, seem to do very good in areas of human habitation. 
Darwin carpets are born red and go through an ontogenetic color change into adulthood. They typically are banded with tan and black bands interspersed with orange and yellow. They are often confused with the Papuan carpet python, but they have a thicker head and a parietal stripe passing from the back of their head and through the eye, but it stops just before the nasal scale.
These snakes spend a great deal of time in the trees. Gavin Bedford told us that during his studies, he had a male that mated with a couple of females without ever touching the ground. The one that we found in the Botanical Gardens was resting on some branches high up in the canopy. Gavin also told us that the babies are in the trees but much lower to the ground.

The Darwin carpet python has a varied diet in the wild. They primarily feed on mammals as adults, and it has been observed that they feed on birds when younger. Larger individuals have been known to feed on flying foxes and Northern brushtail possums.
Breeding in the wild.
Breeding season in the wild typically takes place in late June and July. They typically lay their eggs between September and November, and the hatchlings emerge from their eggs in January and February. Males will combat each other over females.